Package



Jan. 5, 1960 w. M. MCCRACKEN PACKAGE Filed Dec. 29, 1958 INVENTOR WILLIAM M. MC CRACKEN BY '4 Z ATTORNEY PACKAGE William M. McCracken, Aidan, Pa., assignor to International Resistance Company, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application December 29, 1958, Serial No. 783,362

7 Claims. 01. 206-4534) This invention relates to a package, and more particularly to .a package for electrical components.

Electrical components, such as resistors, capacitors,

and the like, are packaged in small quantities for sale to the individual user, such as the .electrical, television,,and

r adio repairman. Such packages must be small and compact so that the .user can .easily store and vcarry around the many various types and values of the components which he may need. Also, the package should .-permit ease of identification of the type and value of the electrical component without the necessity of opening the package. Furthermore, the package should permit ease of removal of the components from the package. Finally, the package should be relatively inexpensive so that it does not add any appreciable cost to the components.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a package for electrical components.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a package for electrical components which permits ease of identification of the type and value of the component.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a package for electrical components which permits ease of removal of the components from the package.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a package for electrical components which is small, compact, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects Will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the package of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the package of the present invention.

Referring to the drawing. the package of the present invention is generally designated as 10. Package 10 comprises a folder 12, a plurality of electrical components 14, and a transparent sleeve 16.

Folder 12 comprises a substantially rectangular base 18 of relatively stifi but flexible paper, having a flap 20 integral with each end thereof. Flaps 20 are folded back over the base 18 along fold lines 22. Each of the flaps 20 is pivotable between a position substantially parallel to the base 18 and a position substantially in alignment with base 18. The length of each of the flaps 20 is less than one-half the length of base 18 so that when the flaps 20 are in their folded-over position the ends of the flaps 20 are spaced apart.

Each of the electrical components 14 comprises an elongated body 24 which contains the electrical element, such as a resistor, capacitor, or the like. Lead wires 26, which are connected to the electrical element within the body 24, extend longitudinally outward from the ends of the body 24, Body 24 has colored stripes 28 or other i 'iatertted Jan. 5, 1960 indicia printed or painted thereon to indicate the type and/orthe value of the electrical component 14.-

-.Sleeve 16 is made of a substantially stiff, transparent plastic. Sleeve 16 comprises a pair of substantially fiat,

parallel sides 39 connected together in spaced relation by= -rounded edges 32. The ends of the sleeve 16 are open. The sides 3% 'of sleeve 16 are spaced apart a distanoe substantially equal to the thickness of the base 18 offolder 12 plus the thickness of the body 24 of an electrical component '14. The distance between the edges 32 of sleeve 16 is substantially equal to the width of the base 18 of the folder 12. The length of sleeve 16 is slightlyshorter than the length of base; 18"0f folder 12.

Theclectrical components 14 are positioned in sideby-side relation on the base 18 offolder 12 with the leadwires 26extending longitudinally along the base, 18 to the fold lines 22. Flaps 20 are folded over the lead WiljfiS/ZG of the electrical components 14 to their position {substantially parallel to the base 18. FlapsZt) are of a length that they extend to the ends of the bodies 24 pf the electrical compo-nents 14. "Thus theends of :the flaps E20 hold the bodies 24 of the electrical components ,14 .infside-byeside aligned position with the bodies 24 being exposed between the flaps 20. ,The folder .12 and electrical component :14 assembly is then completely inserted into the sleeve 16. The sleeve 16 holds the flaps 20 in their folded-over position so as to maintain the electrical components 14 in their side-by-side relation. The bodies 24 of the electrical components 14 are clearly visible through the transparent sleeve 16. so that the type and value of the electrical components 14 are easily discernible.

The electrical components 14 can be easily removed from the package 10 by pulling one end of the folder 12, which projects slightly from the end of the sleeve 16, out of the sleeve 16 until the flap 20 is completely out of the sleeve 16. The flap 20 is then pivoted to its position in alignment with the base 18 of the folder 12. One or more of the electrical components 14 can then be easily lifted from the folder 12 by the lead wires 26. The fiap 20 is then folded back over the lead wires 26, and the folder 12 pushed back into the sleeve 16.

Thus, there is provided a package 10 of electrical components 14 which is small and compact so that a plurality of the packages 10 can be stored in a small space. The electrical components 14 in the package 10 are clearly visible so that the type and value of the electrical components can be easily determined without the necessity of opening the package. As previously described, one or more of the electrical components 14 can be easily removed from the package 10 without disturbing or disarranging the other components 14 in the package 10. Also, the package 10 is relatively inexpensive to manufacture so that it does not add any appreciable cost to the cost of the electrical components 14.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A package for electrical components comprising a folder having a substantially rectangular base and a separate flap integral with each end of said base, said flaps being pivotable between a position overlying and substantially parallel to said base and a position in alignment with said base, each of said flaps being of a length less than one-half the length of said base, a plurality of the electrical components positioned in side-by-side relaand a transparent sleeve surrounding said folder and said components, said sleeve maintaining the flaps of said folder in their position substantially parallel to the base of said folder. v

2. A package in accordance with claim 1 in which said folder is made of a relatively stiff, but flexible paper, and said sleeve is made of a relatively stiff, transparent plastic.

3. A package for electrical components having a body and a lead wire extending longitudinally from each end of the body comprising a folder having a substantially rectangular base and a separate flap integral with each end of said base, said flaps being pivotable between a position overlying and substantially parallel to said base and a position in alignment with said base, each of said flaps being of a length less than one-half the length of said base, a plurality of electrical components positioned in side-by-side relation on said base with the lead wires extending longitudinally along said base, the flaps of said folder extending over said components and leaving the bodies of said components exposed between the ends of said fiaps, and a transparent sleeve surounding said folder and said components, said sleeve maintaining the flaps of said folder in their position substantially parallel to the base of said folder.

4. A package in accordance with claim 3 in which said folder is made of a relatively stiff, but flexible paper, and said sleeve is made of a relatively stiff, transparent plastic.

5. A package in accordance with claim 4 in which the flaps of said folder are of a length that the flaps extend to the ends of the bodies of the electrical components so that the ends of the flaps maintain the bodies of the components in side-by-side aligned position.

6. A package in accordance with claim 5 in which said sleeve comprises a pair of substantially flat, parallel sides secured together in spaced relation by rounded edges, the spacing between said sides being substantially equal to the thickness of the base of said folder plus the thickness of the body of a component, and the distance between said edges being substantially equal to the Width of the base of said folder.

7. A package in accordance with claim 6 in which said sleeve is slightly shorter than the length of the base of said folder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 243,875 Emery July 5, 1881 2,251,609 Freeburg Aug. 5, 1941 2,410,161 Helbeim Oct. 29, 1946 2,450,089 Hiergesell et al Sept. 28, 1948 2,792,111 Ringler et al May 14, 1957 2,797,012 Buck June 25, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,129,949 France Sept. 17, 1956 

